Automatic selective switch.



In van for.-

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

2 SHEET $SHEET Z.

James L /I- Quark/e. y

F on On A U 0- c M .L I.

AUTOMATIC SELECTIVE SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15. Isle.

atin UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. MQQUARBIE, or MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR To WESTERN ELEc- TRIO COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YoEK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC SELECTIVE SWITCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES L. MGQUARRIE, a citizen of'the United States, residing at Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Selective Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to automatic selective switching devices of the type which are actuated by some mechanical means, and more particularly to the controlling means for such switches.

In accordancewith the principal feature of ,this invention, there is associated with the automatic switching device a mechanism in which is combined both electrical and mechanical control features. Preferably this mechanism comprises a sequence switch operin its usual capacity as a circuit controlling device, and being adapted, in-addition, to mechanically control devices which in turn control the starting, stopping and release of the automatic switching device. The mechanical functions of the sequence switch may be attained through the use of cams mounted upon the sequence switchshaft', and operating in certain positions of the shaft to perform the. desired functions.

In the drawings in which this invention is illustrated in connection with a fluid operated switch, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation with parts in section, of a switching device with the controlling mechanism of this invention applied thereto; and Fig. 2

is a diagram of a circuit illustrating the application of this invention to a telephone system.

It is thought the invention may best be understood by the following detailed description.

Referring now especially to Fig. 1, T represents a bank of terminals, and B represents a set of brushes arranged to travel over and make contact with these terminals.

- The brushes B are mounted on a shaft S connected with the driving means of. the

selector switch. The lower partof the shaft S is provided with notches N, the function of which will be described later. Connected to the shaft'S, is a piston rod PR, which in turn is directly connected to the piston P,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 15, 1918. Serial No. 131,456.

movable in the cylinder 0. An aperture A is provided for leading compressed air from some source'or storage tank to the switch. Communication between the aperture A and the cylinder C is had through a valve V when opened, and a port 1. The valve V is controlled through a shaft 2 and a lever 3. An exhaust valve V gives communication between the port 1 and the out side of the apparatus for the purpose of exhausting the compressed air under the piston and allowing the brush carriage to descend. The valve V is controlled through the hollow shaft 4 and the lever 5.

Made a part of and supported by the same frame as that which supports the cylinder of the selective switch, but not shown here, is a step-by-step sequence switch. This switch is operated by its magnet M through a pawl 6 and a ratchet wheel 7. The movement of the ratchet wheel 7 causes the rotation of the spindle 83 which in turn actuates the two contactors 9 and 10. Securely fastened to the spindle 8 are four cams, 11, 12, 13 and 14. These ca'ms control the movements of the levers 3, 5,15 and 16, whereby the intake and exhaust valves of the switch are actuated. It should be noted that levers 15 and '16 operate valves similar to V and V and control the ingress and egress of compressed air to the portion of the cylinder above the piston C.

\ A magnet RM is rigidly connected to the frame, and controls a pawl 17 which, working in thenotches N, holds the brushes B immovable on a selected contact T. This is provided to prevent the movement of the rushes B should. there be any leaks in the cylinder 0.

Referring now especially to Fig. 2, we may assume that a call has been initiated by a subscriber. answered by a semi-automatic exchange operator and that said operator has, by means of a cord circuit, connected a sender to' this local incoming circuit. A

102, resistance R, conductor and thence to the conductor 51 through the apparatus of the sender, sequence switch contact 103, sequence switch contact 104, resistance R to ground. Relay 52 is energized in this circuit and completes a locking circuit for itself from grounded battery, the winding of relay 52, the contact and left-hand armature of relay 52, sequence switch contact 1.05 and thence through the circuit previously traced. At its right-hand armature relay 52 completes a circuit which extends from ground, sequence switch contact 106, the right-hand armature and alternate contact of relay 52, the sequence switch contact 107, the winding of magnet 53 to battery and thence to ground. Relay 53 is thereby energized and in turn completes a circuit from ground, its right-hand armature and alternate contact, sequence switch contact 108, sequence switch contact 109 to the motor magnet 100 of the sequence switch, interrupter I, to battery and thence to gIOllIld. The motor magnet makes one step and moves its contactors into position 2. As the contactors move out of position 1, the circuit for energizing the motor magnet 100 is broken at the sequence switch contact 108.

Relay 53 will be maintained in an energized condition through a circuitleading rom aground in the cord circuit which has seized this selector circuit, as indicated by the numeral 110, the resistanceR, the lefthand armature and alternate contact of relay 53, the winding of relay 53 to battery and thence to ground.

As thesequence. switch passes out of'position 1 and into position, 1%, a circuit is prepared for'shuntin of thesender, which extends from the se quence switch contact 105 .to the sequence switch contact 111, and thence to the commutator segment 54,where it will later be extended throughvthe brush B? to ground. As position 2 is reached, valve-operating. levers 112 and 113 cause theopening ofthe intake valve leading to the chamber below the piston, and the exhaust valve leading to the chamber above the piston, respectively.

The compressed air beneath the. piston forces it upward, and,.'as the brush B passes over the commutator segment 54, the steprelayj52- completes a circuit from sequence sw1tchcontact106, theri-g t-hand ping relay of the sender is intermittently short-circuited and will therehybe caused to retract and attract -'its armature until thesender is satisfied, at which time] the 'funda'- mental circuit will be opened, whereupon the relay/52 will retract its. armatures, v The'retractionofthe armaturesof the armature and normal contactiof relay 52, the

' left-hand armature and normal-contact of ingofmotor magnet 100,0f sequence switch,

relay 55, sequence switchcontact 109, wind out the sterp ng relay ound,

brush B-;at t

switch leave position 2 at the sequence switch contact 114. In this position the trip magnet TM is energized over a circuit leading from ground,

battery, the winding of trip magnet TM,

sequence switch contact 115, sequence switch' contact 116, to ground. The trip magnet operates .to release the particular set of brushes selected in a manner similar to that described in U. S. Patent 1,177,044.

r The sender having been satisfied at the conclusion of the sending of the brush selecting impulses, mechanism described in the patent to-Lundell 1,168,319 new acts to close the fundamental circuit, whereby the relay 52 is again energized and again completes a locking circuit for itself over its contact and left-hand armature as before described.

Upon attracting its armatures, relay '52 completes a circuit from round, sequence switch contact 106, the right-hand armature and alternate contact of relay 52, thesequence switch contact 117, sequence switch contact 118 to the magnet 100 of the sequence switch, interrupter 1, battery, and thence to ground, whereupon sequence switch 100 steps its .contactors lnto position 4.

In position 4' the valve-operating cams 112 and 1133. again allow compressed air to flow into' the cylinder ofthe pneumatic again elevated. Brush B now passesover the commutator segment 56, and thereby intermittently shunts out the stepping relay switch, whereupon the brush carriage B is of the sender over a circuit from ground,

brush B commutator segment 56, sequence switch contact 111%, to a junction with the fundamental cir'c t,

When the sender is again satisfied, a .par-

ticular group of terminals T have been selected. The relay 52 becomes .deenergized,

and uponthe retraction of its'armature, coma .pletes a circuit from ground, sequence switch P. contact v106, the .left-hand armature andl li alternate contact of relay 5'5f, sequence switch contact 114, 'sequenceswitchcontact 109, to I themotor'magnet'100 of the sequence'switch,

interrupter I, battery and thence to ground. 120 osi'ti on, and, in so doing, O PQIISYthB CH'CIIIt just-describedat the f-Sequence switch 100 'jmo'ves." its contactors into the fifth queues-switch contact 114;, In 'the'Zfifth sition, a

and thereby pllieyents the' grounding of s time through a clrcuit circuit 'is each.- lished from ground,sequenc'e switch contact. -116.,'sequence switch contact 120, right-hand winding of relay 55 to battery andthe'nce to ground. Relay I55. attracts .its armatures ance R to brush B 112 and 113 again allow winding When the sender-was satisfied after the sending of the group selecting impulses, the relay 52 was deenergized, and retracting its armatures, established a circuit from ground,

sequence switch contact 106, the armature and alternate contact of relay 55, sequence switch contact 117, sequence switch contact 118, motor magnet 100 of the sequence switch, interrupter I, battery, and thence to ground. The sequence switch moves its contactors into the sixth osition, and in so doing, opens the circuit ust described at the sequence switch contact 117. r

11 position 6 the valve-operating levers pressed air below the piston P, whereby the rush carriage B is again elevated.

In this posltion,

ing from ground, brush B", commutator segment 57, sequence switch contact 121, sequence switch contact 120, the right-hand of relay 55 to battery and thence to ground. As brush B moves on to an insulatedsection of commutator segment 57, the brush B is ositioned on a terminal I). If this terminal is connected with a busy trunk, it will be grounded in a manner well-known in the art, and hence relay 55 will be main- 'tained energized over a circuit extending from the ground leading to the terminal t brush B resistance R right-hand armature and alternate contact of relay 55, sequence switch contact 122, the left-hand winding of relay 55, to battery and thence to ground. As the brushes B B and B move over the terminal bank T, an idle trunk will finally be encountered, at which time, the brush B being situated on an insulated section of commutator segment 57, and the terminal t being ungrounded, the energizing circuits for both the right and left-hand windings of relay 55 will be opened, whereby relay55 will become deenergized, and will r'etract its armature.

As a result, a circuit will be established from ground through sequence switch contact 106, mal contact of relay 52, the left-hand armature and normal contact of relay 55, sequence switch contact 114, sequence switch contact 109, the winding of motor magnet of sequence switch 100, interrupter 1, battery and thence to ground. Sequence switch 100 willmove its contactors into the seventh position, and in so doing interrupts the circuit just traced at sequence switch contact 114.

The valve-operating levers 112 and 113, movin the contactors of the sequence switch, will cut ofi the supply of compressed air and allow the brushes B, B and B to the ingress of com relay 55 is maintained in. an energized condition over a circuit extendswitch 100, thence to ground. 'moves its contactors into the ninth position,

the right-hand armature and "norcontact 101.

quence switch 100, interrupter come to rest on the terminals 1? t and t of the idle trunk. The pawl 17 will come to rest. in the proper notch N of the spindle S to hold the brush carriage permanently in the selected position until released.

"In position 7, a circuit will also be established from ground, sequence switch contact 123, the normal contact and right-hand armature of .relay 55, resistance Rt, the brush B terminal t thereby grounding this terminal and marking the selected trunk as busy. 7

In position 7 the fundamental circuit, including the rela 52, is again closed, whereupon relay 52 comes energized, and attracts its armatures. A circuit is now established between ground, sequence switch contact 106, ri ht-hand armature and altersequence switch contact 118, the

nate contact 0 relay 52, the contact 117, sequence switch motor magnet of sequence switch 100, interrupter I, to battery, and thence to ground.

- the conductor 50, apparatus of the sender to conductor 51, the sequence switch contact 103, sequence switch contact 104:, resistance It and ground. The next selector switch will be impelled forward in a manner simi" lar to that described in connection with the selector switch shown in Fig. 2, and when, after the first series of impulses, the sender is satisfied, the relay 52 will be denergized. A circuit is now established between round, sequence switch contact 106, the rig t-hand armature and normal contact of relay 55, sequence switch contact 114, sequence switch contact'109, the motor magnet of sequence interrupter I, to battery 1 and Sequence switch 100 and in so doing opens the circuit just described at sequence-switch contact 11 1.

In position; 9, the fundamental circuit leading to the next selector switch is again completed and the circuit for relay 52 is also again "completed through sequence switch Upon the energization of relay 52, a connection is established between ground, sequence switch contact 106,r1ghthand armature and alternate contact of relay 52, sequence switch contact 117, sequence switch contact 118, motor magnet of se- I, to battery and thence to ground. Sequence switch 100 moves its contactors into the tenth position, and in $0 doing, opens the circuit jzust described at sequence switch contact 11 the fundamental circuit is v As the second series of impulses to the selector switch beyond the one shown are sent, and when the sender is again satisfied, the relay 52 will be deenergized, whereby a circuit is established from ground to sequence switch contact 106, the right-hand armature and normal contact of relay 52, left-hand armature and normal contact of relay 55, the

sequenceswitch contact 114, sequence switch contact 109, motor magnet of sequence switch 100, interrupter I, to battery and thence to ground. Sequence switc 100 moves its cbntactors into the eleventh position, and, in so doing, opens the circuit just described at sequence switch contact 114.-

In the eleventh position, circuit for relay 52 is again established through sequence switch contact 101 and the sender clrcuit,

whereupon relay 52 becomes energized andattracts its armatures. A circuit is now established from sequence switch contact 106,

\ the right-hand armature and alternate contact of relay 52, sequence switch contact 117,

' sequence switch contact 118, motor magnet circuit of sequenceswitch 100, interrupter I, to battery, and thence to ground. Sequence switch 100 moves its contactors into thetwelfth position, and in so doing, opens the just described at sequence switch contact 117 v As the contactors of sequence switch 100 move into 'the twelfth position, a fundamental circuit is again extended through sequence switch contact 124 to the selector switch beyond the one here shown. As another series of impulses is transmitted, and he sender is again satisfied, relay 52 is deenergized. Upon retracting its armatures, it establishes a circuit between ground, sequence switch contact 106, the right-hand armature and normal contact of relay 52, the

left-hand armature and normal contact of relay 55, sequence switch contact 114, sequence switch-contact 109, the motor magnet of the sequence switch 100, interrupter I, to battery, and thence to ground, whereupon sequence switch 100 moves its contactors to the thirteenth position, and in so doing, opens the circuit just described at sequence switch contact 114. v In position thirteen, a circuit is estab- 1 lished between ground, battery, winding of relay 52, sequence switch contact 101, 'sequence-"Switch contact 125, conductor 50 to a ground beyond the repeating coil of the cord circuit which is extending this connection. Rela 52 becomes energized, and in so doing, esta lishes a circuit from ground, sequence switch contact 106, the right-hand armature and alternate contact of relay 52, sequence switch contact 117, sequence switch contact 118, the motor ma net of sequence switch 100 to battery,-and t ence to ground.

Sequence switch 100 moves its contactbrs into the fourteenth position, and in so doing,

tact 116, sequence switch quence switch contact 117.

In position fourteen, a circuit is established between ground, sequence switch con contact 120, the right-hand winding of relay 55 to battery, and thence to ground.

The arrangement of the system of which the circuit :shown in Fig. 2forms a part is one in which four-party selective ringing is accomplished through the selection at the first selector of one or another kind of ringing current, such, for instance, as plus pulsatin or minus pulsating current, and a reverse of the line is accomplished at a selector or connector switch beyond the first. In this'case selection of the plus or minus pulsating current is made by directing the brushes of the selector switch to a particular group of trunks, the conductors of which position and minus pulsating current is se-,

lected in the sixteenth position. Hence, if a party whose bell responds to plus pulsating current is wanted, the ringing must occur while the selector switch is in position fifteen, and if the party whose bell responds I to minus pulsating current is wanted the ringing must occur in position sixteen.

Assuming the first to be true, it will be noted that brush B is driven to a point in the commutator segment 58, in which no I contact is made between said brush and said commutator'segment. As position fourteen is reached a circuit is established between ground, sequence switch contact 126, motor magnet of sequence switch 100, interrupter I, 'to battery and thence tokground, whereupon sequence switch 100 moves its contactor into the fifteenth position, andjn so doing opens the circuit just. described at sequence switch contact 126.

As the sequence switch moves into position fifteen, the energizingcircuit for relay 55 previously described is opened at the sequence switch contact, and the relay 55 retractsits armatures. i

In position fifteen a circuit is established from round at the repeating coil of the cord circuit, extending this connection to conductor 50, sequence switch contact 127 normal contacts of the armature of relay 59, relay 60, armature and contact of-relay 62, sequence switch contact 128, normal con? tact and right-hand armature of relay 52,

sequence switch contact 129 to battery and thence to ground. Relay 60 is energized in this circuit, and by attracting its armatures establishes a ringing circuit from ground, up er armature and alternate con-- tact of re ay 60,- brush B", terminal t through the next selector switch, the ap paratus of the called subscribers telephone line back again to terminal t the brush B, the lower armature and alternate contact of relay 60, sequence switch contact 130, the left-hand winding of relay 62 to a source of plus pulsating current.

The current flowing through this circuit while the bell at the called subscribers station is ringing is not enou h to energize relay 62. .1 However, upon t e removal of the receiver from its hook at the called subscribers substation, the increase in the current flowing through the circuit just described is enough to cause the energization of relay 62, whereby the energizing circuit for relay is opened at the contact and armature of relay 62, and the winding of relay 61introduced in this circuit. Rel 61 is so designed that, upon its introductizii into the energizing circuit of relay 60, the current flowing through relay 60 is reduced to such a point that it retracts its armatures. The current flowing through relay. 61, however, is enough to cause it to attract its armature, thereby maintaining a circuit for itself when relay 62, in response to the deenergization of relay 60 becomes deenergize The retraction of its armatures by relay 60 extends the talking conductors of the cord circuit, extending this call, through to the called subscriber and supervisory relay .63 thereupon becomes energized.

Upon the energization of relay 63, a circuit is established from ground, armature and alternate contact of relay 63, sequence switch contact 131 to the left-hand winding of relay 55, battery, and thence to ground. Relay 55 attracts its armatures and establishes a circuit from ground, sequence switch contact 133, right-hand armature and alternate contact of relayv 55, sequence switch contact 134 to motor magnet of sequence switch 100, interrupter I to battery, and

thence to ground. Sequence switch 100 moves its contractors from the fifteenth position into the seventeenth position, it he ing noted that the circuit just described is maintained throughout the fifteenth and sixteenth positions.

The energization of relay 63 also results in the establishment of a circuit between ground, the armature and alternate contact of relay 63, the winding of relay 59, the

sequence switch contact 128, normal contact and right-hand armature of relay 52, sequence switch contact 129 to battery, and thence to ground. Relay59 attracts its armature and establish an alternate circuit for the energization of relay 61 from ground, the armature and alternate contact of relay 59, relay 60, relay 61, and thence through the circuit previously traced.

Suppose now whose telephone bell responds to plus alternatin current, that a party whose bell respon s to minus alternating current is that instead of a party" wanted. The proper selection of trunks would have left the brush B in contact with the commutator segment 58, whereupon a circuit would be established between ground, the brush B, commutator segment 58, sequence switch contact 127, the left-, hand winding of relay 55 to battery, and thence-to ground.

As the contactors' of sequence switch 100 passed from the fourteenth,to the fifteenth position, passing through the right-hand winding of this relay would have been opened at sequence switch contact 120, but the relay would have been maintained in an energized condition through the last circuit traced.

Then, as position fifteen isreached, a circuit-is established between ground, sequence switch contact 133, the right-hand armature and alternate contact of relay. 55, sequence switch contact 13 1 to motor magnet of sequence switch 100, interrupter I, to battery, and thence to ground. Sequence switch 100 the energizing circuit for relay 55 continues in this movement until position I fifteen is passed, at which time the energizing circuit for relay 55 is opened at sequence switch contact 127, and the contactors of sequence switch 100 come to rest in position sixteen. Thereupon the previously described ringing" circuit is established, with the exception that instead of extending through sequence switch contact 130, the lefthand winding of relay 62 to a source of plus pulsating current, it now extends through sequence switch contact 135, the

right-hand winding of relay 62 to a source of the completion of the conversation. At this time the hanging up of the receiver by the called subscriber results in the deenergization of the supervisory relay 63, whereupon acircuit is established from ground, the

armature and normal contact of relay 63,

sequence switch contact 136 to the motor magnet of sequence switch 100, the interrupter I, to battery, and thence to ground. Sequence switch 100 moves into the eighteenth position and the circuit just described is broken at the sequence switch" contact 136.

In position eighteen a circuit is established from ground, sequence switch contact 106, sequence switch contact 137, the release magnet RM, battery, and thence to ground. The release magnet attracts its armature 17, thereby allowing the shaft S to move downward. At the same time valve-operating levers 138 and 139 y are opened to allow the, ingress of compressed air into the space above the piston P, and

the exhaust of the compressed air beneath the piston P. Thisresults in the return of the rush carriage B to its normal position.

When such normal position is reached, a, circuit is established between ground, the

brush B commutator segment 64;, sequence I switch contact 140, the motor magnet of sequence switch 100 to interrupter I, to battery,- and thence to ground. Sequence switch l 00 moves its contactors into the first or'normal position, and upon so-doing opens the circuit just described at the sequence switch contact 140.

The hanging up of the receiver by the calling subscriber also operates a supervisory relay in the cord circuit which had been extended to this selector switch. 7 The deenergization of this supervisory relay acts in a manner similar to that described in connection with the selector shown in Fig.

2, so that when a normal position is reached,

connection between such cord circuit and the conductor is broken. Also the ground which has up to this time maintained relay 53 energized is removed, and relay 53 resumes its normal position.

It may be noted that while in the sixth position, if an idle trunk had not been found the selector switch herein described would have been moved to an over-flow position,

whereupon a circuit would have been est'ab lished from ground to brush B commutator segment 65, sequence switch contact 118, motor magnet of sequence. switch- 100, interrupter I, battery, and thence to ground. The sequence switch would have moveddirectly from the sixth into the seventeenth position under the control of interrupter I, and from thence to normal through the agency of circuits" established through sequence switch contact 136, and later sequence switch contact 140. i

. It should also be noted that should the oporator handling this call abandon the same after the sequence switch 100- had reached the second or some later position, she would thereby remove theground 110 and by thus deenergizing the relay 53, establish a circuit from ground-,.the right-hand armature and normal contact of relay 53, sequence switch contact 141, motor magnet of sequence switch 100, interrupter 1, battery, and

thence to ground. Through this circuit sequence switch 100 would be driven forward until its normal position was again reached.

\ What is claimed is:

1. An automatic switch having fixed circuit terminals and brushes arran ed to move over and make contact with sai terminals,

fluid controlled means for actuating said brushes, a sequence switch having electrical contacts forv controlling said automatic switch, and means carried by said sequence switch for mechanically controlling said actuating means.

2. An automatic switchliaving fixed circuit terminals and brushes arranged to travel over and make contact with said terminals, pneumatically controlled means for actuating said switch, a sequence switch comprising a motor-magnet, a spindle arranged to be rotated by said motor magnet, a plurality of electrical contactors mounted on said spindle, and a plurality of camsfor mechanically controlling said pneumatic means mounted on said spindle.

3. An automatic switch having fixed circuit. terminals, and brus es arranged to travel over and make contact with said terminals, a cylinder, a piston movable in saidcylinder, a connection between said piston and said brushes comprising a piston rod and a brush carriage, a source of fluid under pressure, ports for the admission and exhaust of said fluid, and valves for controlling said-ports, a sequence switch comprising a motor magnet, and a spindle adapted to be rotated by said magnet, said spindle carrying a plurality of electrical contactors, and a plurality of cams for mechanically operating said ,valves in'predetermined 'positions of said'sequence switch. 1

4. An automatic switch, fixed circuit terminals, brushes arranged to travel over and make contact with said terminals, means for actuating said brushes, a sequence switch for controlling said actuating means comprising rotatably mounted electrical contactors and cams, said cams having direct mechanical control over said actuating means.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subcribe my name 1916.

JAMES L. MCQUARRIE.

this 14th day of. November, A. D. 

